SardiniaFirst Postage Stamp

The Kingdom’s first Stamps

In January 1851, the Kingdom of Sardinia became the very first Italian state to issue postage stamps. Printed by Francesco Matraire in Turin, the set showed the profile of King Victor Emmanuel II inside a bold frame, with values ranging from 5c to 40c. All were imperforate without watermark, crisp typography on plain paper. Today these stamps are highly sought after. They’re scarce in any condition, and especially hard to find with four full margins. Their desirability also means the market is flooded with forgeries. Many were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often on the wrong paper or with blurred frames and crude lettering compared to the sharp Turin originals. Getting a certificate of authenticity is a reasonable idea for this one. As Sardinia’s first issue, they foreshadow the role Victor Emmanuel II would play a decade later as the first king of a unified Italy.